Washing machine tub lock

ABSTRACT

A washing machine tub lock device ( 10 ) is provided that prevents the wash tub ( 12 ) from impacting the washing machine cabinet ( 16 ) during shipping and handling. The tub lock device ( 10 ) is formed by cutting and folding a corrugated blank into an inverted truncated hexagonal cone that can be wedged inside the top portion of the washing machine tub ( 12 ).

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This patent relates to appliance packaging. More particularly, thispatent relates to a device that fits inside a washing machine tub tolock the tub in place during shipping.

2. Description of the Related Art

Top-loading washing machines generally comprise a spin or wash tubdisposed within a washing machine cabinet or housing. Some washingmachines have a central pivoting agitator extending upwardly from thebottom of the wash tub and operably connected to a motor located belowthe tub. Other washing machines lack this central agitator and insteadhave ridges located on the inside of the wash tub to assist with theagitating function. In washing machines without the central agitator thewash tub itself may oscillate up and down and/or rotate back and forthto agitate the clothes. In either type of washing machine the clearancebetween the wash tub and the appliance cabinet is often no more thanabout an inch (2.54 cm), and so the cabinet is susceptible to damagefrom impacts from the wash tub when the appliance is moved duringshipping.

Thus there is a need for a device that locks the tub in place orotherwise prevents the tub from impacting the appliance cabinet when thewashing machine is moved. Prior to the present invention, this wastypically accomplished using blocks of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS)as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,620,365; 3,812,959; 3,901,385;3,912,076; 3,913,736 and 4,700.832; or corrugated fiberboard asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,190. However, EPS braces can breakapart, reducing protection.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedprotective device made from corrugated fiberboard that prevents awashing machine wash tub from impacting and damaging the cabinet duringshipping and handling.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a tub lock device for a washing machine thatlocks the wash tub into place to prevent the tub from impacting thecabinet during shipping and handling. The tub lock device preferablycomprises six side panels arranged to form a six sided truncated conehaving a bottom major (maximum) diameter less than the top diameter ofthe wash tub and a top major (maximum) diameter exceeding the topdiameter of the wash tub. Alternatively, the side panels can be arrangedto form a cylinder, the cylinder configured to form a friction fit withthe wash tub top opening and the cabinet top opening.

Preferably the tub lock device is formed from a cut and folded blankmade from corrugated board. Upon delivery, the brace can be removed fromthe appliance in a single piece and recycled.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view of a tub lock according to the presentinvention shown installed in a washing machine.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a washing machine shown without atub lock.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a washing machine shown with a tublock.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the tub lock of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a blank from which a tub lock according tothe present invention can be made.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention may be embodied in many forms, there is shown inthe drawings and will herein be described in detail one or moreembodiments with the understanding that this disclosure is to beconsidered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and isnot intended to limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments.

Turning to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 one embodiment of thepresent invention, a tub lock 10 for a top loading washing machine 16that prevents the wash tub 12 from impacting (hitting) the washingmachine cabinet 14 during shipping and handling.

The washing machine itself, shown generally at 16, may be the type thatdoes not have a central agitator. Instead, the wash tub 12 may haveridges 20 located on the wash tub wall interior surface and the tub 12may move reciprocally up and down and/or rotate back and forth toagitate the clothes. In the washing machine 16 shown in FIGS. 1-3 thecabinet top opening and the wash tub top opening are both about 16inches (41 cm) in diameter, with the wash tub top opening slightlysmaller than the cabinet top opening. The wash tub 12 is supported frombelow the tub 12 and can swing from its center position and impact thewalls of the cabinet 12 from the inside if not restrained. These impactscan produce a cosmetic defect to the outside of the cabinet 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, this problem is solved by placing inside thewashing machine 16 a tub lock 10 made according to the presentinvention. Preferably the tub lock 10 has an inverted, truncated conicalshape in which the major (maximum) diameter of the bottom of theinverted cone is less than the top diameter of the wash tub top openingso that the tub lock 10 fits down into the wash tub 12, and the major(maximum) diameter of the top of the inverted cone exceeds the topdiameter of the wash tub top opening to prevent the tub lock 10 fromfalling completely into the wash tub 12.

More preferably, the major top diameter of the wash tub lock 10 exceedsthe diameter of the cabinet top opening. In this way, the bottom of thewash tub lock 10 is located below the wash tub top opening while the topof the wash tub lock 10 is located above the cabinet top opening (butlow enough to allow the washing machine lid to close). Preferably thesides of the wash tub lock 10 are wedged against the rim of the washingmachine cabinet top opening and the rim of the wash tub top opening asshown in FIG. 1. This positioning of the wash tub lock 10 limits or eveneliminates any movement of the wash tub 12 relative to the washingmachine cabinet 14, thereby reducing or eliminating the possibility ofthe wash tub swinging against or otherwise hitting the interior wall ofthe washing machine cabinet 14.

FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of the tub lock. The six sided(hexagonal) shape of the tub lock 10 is considered optimal because thisshape is best suited for securing the tub lock 10 in place. However,other tub lock shapes are contemplated, including four, five and sevensided truncated cones.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the tub lock 10 is formed from a unitary (onepiece) blank, preferably made of corrugated board, that is cut andfolded into a three-dimensional shape that fits into the tub topsection. The blank comprises six substantially rectangular flat sidepanels 22, 24, 26, 28, 32 and 34 and six attachment panels 23, 25, 27,29, 31 and 33 interposed between the side panels, the side andattachment panels arranged in roughly a circular pattern. The blank canbe cut along cut lines 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56, folded at fold lines61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72, and then glued toform a truncated hexagonal cone shaped tub lock. The side panels 22, 24,26, 28, 32 and 34 need not be uniform in shape or dimensions but rathercan be configured to best fit the top section of the wash tub 12. Theside panels may be contiguous as shown in the figures. The tub lock 10may be assembled using glue or other adhesive, although any suitablemean of attaching the panels may be used.

The tub lock 10 preferably comprises a bottom panel 36 as shown in FIGS.3, 4 and 5 to help the tub lock 10 retain its shape during use. If thewashing machine has a central agitator, the tub lock 10 must be shallowenough to fit above the agitator or not have a bottom panel 36.

If necessary, notches 38 may be formed in the top rim 42 of the tub lock10 to accommodate the washing machine lid hinge or other lid components.Likewise, the top rim 42 may include contoured sections 44 toaccommodate the washing machine lid handle or other lid components.

The invention works in the following manner. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,the tub lock 10 is inserted into the top section of the wash tub 12 sothat it is wedged against the washing machine opening and/or wash tubopening. If a six sided tub lock 10 is used it may contact the washingmachine cabinet 14 and/or wash tub 12 in as many as six places. The tublock 10 is removed once the washing machine 16 reaches its finaldestination.

Thus there has been described a tub lock for a washing machine thatprotects the washing machine cabinet from being dented from the insideby the washing machine tub. Preferably the tub lock is made from afolded and glued corrugated blank to provide strength and recyclability.The tub lock can be used with a special washing machine base asdescribed in a co-owned and co-pending patent application to furtherprotect and cushion the washing machine during assembly and shipping.

The present invention can also be used with dryers having a dryer tubmounted within a cabinet in a fashion similar to that of the washingmachines described herein.

It is understood that the embodiments of the invention described aboveare only particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles ofthe invention. Modifications and alternative embodiments of theinvention are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of theinvention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. Itis intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternativeembodiments that fall within their scope.

1. A tub lock device for a washing machine of the type having a wash tubdisposed within a cabinet, the wash tub having a top opening with afirst diameter, the cabinet having a top opening with a second diameter,the tub lock device comprising: flat side panels arranged to form aninverted truncated cone, the inverted truncated cone having a majorbottom diameter less than the diameter of the wash tub top opening and amajor top diameter greater than the diameter of the wash tub topopening.
 2. The tub lock device of claim 1 wherein the invertedtruncated cone has a major top diameter greater than the diameter of thecabinet top opening.
 3. The tub lock device of claim 1 wherein the tublock device is formed from a unitary cut and folded blank.
 4. The tublock device of claim 3 wherein the blank is formed from corrugatedboard.
 5. The tub lock device of claim 3 further comprising a bottompanel foldably attached to at least one of the side panels.
 6. The tublock device of claim 5 wherein the bottom panel is foldably attached toevery side panel.
 7. The tub lock device of claim 1 wherein the numberof flat side panels is six.
 8. The tub lock device of claim 1 whereinthe flat side panels are contiguous.
 9. A tub lock device for a washingmachine of the type having a wash tub disposed within a cabinet, thewash tub having a top opening with a first diameter, the cabinet havinga top opening with a second diameter, the tub lock device comprising:flat side panels arranged to form a cylinder, the cylinder configured toform a friction fit with the wash tub top opening and the cabinet topopening.